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Monday, July 25, 2016

An
inspiring epic film has been made about the amazing Iife of Ignacio
de Loyola better known as St. Ignatius, founder of the Society of
Jesus. The movie entitled Ignacio de Loyola chronicles
Ignatius’ transformation from a brash young soldier to a man of
God. It is a production by the Jesuit Communications Foundation
(JesCom), the media arm of the Philippine Jesuit Province and
co-presented by the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific and One Meralco
Foundation. Ignacio de Loyola was shot on location in Spain,
the home country of St. Ignatius.

In
the cast are Spanish stars Javier Godino who starred in the Oscar
Best Foreign Film El Secreto de Sus Ojos, Isabel Garcia Lorca
of Desperately SeekingSusan (that starred Madonna),
Pepe Ocio of the film Camino and Julio Perillan of Woody
Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Twenty six-year old
Spanish heartthrob Andreas Muñoz plays Ignacio de Loyola. Director
Paolo Dy was so thrilled to be working with a stellar cast. “There
were days during the shoot when I would tell myself that I must be
the luckiest director in the world to be working with such a
high-quality cast… I am so happy that they were able to bring so
much life to the film. I don’t hesitate to say that they brought so
much magic to their roles.”

Topnotch
filmmakers comprise the Filipino production team. Director Paolo Dy
has made short films that have received praise in the US. Also in the
crew are award-winning cinematographer Lee Briones Meily and
award-winning sound engineer Mike Idioma. No less than acclaimed
musician Ryan Cayabyab composed the musical score performed by the
ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ateneo Chamber Singers.

Although
an independent production, the design of the film is first-rate.
Meticulous research and careful crafting were employed in making the
costumes and sets. More than 400 period costumes were used and these
were all sewn by first-time costume designer Juvan Bermil and his
team. Additional costumes were created by designer James Reyes. It
took the production design group headed by Leo Velasco, Jr. six
months to make all the sets and props.

Ignacio
de Loyola also utilized the latest in CGI, sound mixing and
visual balancing to come up with a stunning, world-class film. It is
the first Filipino production to use the Cooke Anamorphic/i lenses
which give the film a sharp, subtle and smooth look. The Cooke
Anamorphic/I lenses that Ignaciode Loyola used
was one of only three complete sets that were in existence at the
time of filming.

Last
June, the first cut, work-in-progress version was unveiled to a group
of religious in the Vatican. The special screening was attended by
the members of the Secretariat for Vatican Communications as well as
Catholic Media. Also in the audience were the Jesuit General Rev. Fr.
Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, the Superior General of Saint Paul de Chartres
and his council, and Fr. Antonio Spadaro SJ of the Roman Jesuit
publication La Civita Cattolica who said, “I like this film so
much… It is very well done. Thank you for your work!”

For Fr. Emmanuel
“Nono” Alfonso SJ, head of JesCom and executive producer of
Ignacio de Loyola, completing the film and showing it for
theatrical release is a big blessing. He says, “When we started
this project more than five years ago, we didn’t know the magnitude
of the film. We were naïve! And ambitious!” he chuckles. “But
support poured in and many continue to help us: friends, donors,
benefactors, Jesuits from different parts of the world… all of them
believe in the film’s message about change, forgiveness and the
love of God.”

Ignacio de
Loyola
opens in Philippine cinemas on July 27. For updates, check out
facebook.com/ignaciomovie
at i-follow and follow ignaciomovie on Twitter and Instagram.